Knowles Named to Hughes Board

Jeremy R. Knowles, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, has been elected one of the nine trustees of the Maryland-based Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the second-largest philanthropy in the United States.

Knowles will replace George W. Thorn, a professor emeritus at Harvard Medical School, who played a defining role in the development of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and served at different times as the medical research organization's president, director of research and chairman of trustees.

"[Thorn] was one of the great founders and leaders of the institute," said David Jarmul, associate director of communications for HHMI.

Thorn, who is now in his 90s, had served as a trustee of the institute since 1984 until his resignation last week.

Jarmul said this move was not unpremeditated.

"He had made his intentions known prior to that," he said.

Thorn was unavailable for comment at his residence in Cambridge late last night.

The other eight trustees--who include former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, former University of Chicago president and current Harvard Fellow Hanna H. Gray, and former Du Pont CEO Irving S. Shapiro--discussed the appointment of a ninth trustee and formally elected Knowles last week.

Knowles said he was unaware he was being considered as a potential HHMI trustee.

"I was delightedly surprised to receive a telephone call last week," he said.

Knowles will take office as a trustee immediately, said Jarmul, but he will remain at the helm of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Trustees meet only several times a year to discuss the overall direction and policies of the HHMI, allowing them to continue their primary occupations, Jarmul said.

In an interview with The Crimson last night, Knowles expressed satisfaction with his election.

"I am, of course, honored and delighted to have the opportunity to serve a [medical research organization] that provides such magnificent support for research in the medical and life sciences in this country," he said.

However, he declined to elaborate on his goals for his new appointment.

"It would be presumptuous and improper to embark on my trusteeship with an agenda," he said.

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Knowles, who has been a faculty member at Harvard since 1974, has published more than 250 research papers and is widely considered one of the best enzymologists in the world.

After his appointment as Dean of the Faculty in 1991, Knowles withdrew from research to focus on administrative duties. His last graduate student received her Ph.D. in 1994.

By replacing Professor Thorn, Knowles willmaintain the current ratio of scientists tonon-scientists among the HHMI trustees.

"One trustee dedicated to research in themedical and life sciences is being replaced bysomebody at least with his roots in the researchand teaching in the life sciences," Knowles noted.

Such academic qualifications, according toJarmul, were more important in deciding on asuccessor to Thorn than Knowles' affiliation withHarvard.

"The trustees in this case were looking forsomeone with impeccable scientific credentials,with a deep understanding of academic affairs,"Jarmul said.

Founded by aircraft mogul Howard Hughes in1954, the HHMI today employs more than 320scientific investigators--including several NobelPrize winners and 60 members of the NationalAcademy of Sciences--at 72 institutions across theUnited States.

Its assets of $11 billion make it the secondlargest philanthropy in the United States andenabled it to distribute over $500 million inresearch funding this fiscal year.

HHMI currently employs 15 investigators inCambridge, including Assistant Professor ofMolecular and Cellular Biology Catherine Dulac,Professor of Biological Chemistry and MolecularPharmacology Stephen C. Harrison '63, Professor ofBiochemistry and Molecular Biology Douglas A.Melton, Professor of Chemistry Stuart L. Schreiberand Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics DonC. Wiley at Harvard.

The institute has also given several milliondollars to enhance undergraduate science educationat Harvard, said Jarmul

By replacing Professor Thorn, Knowles willmaintain the current ratio of scientists tonon-scientists among the HHMI trustees.

"One trustee dedicated to research in themedical and life sciences is being replaced bysomebody at least with his roots in the researchand teaching in the life sciences," Knowles noted.

Such academic qualifications, according toJarmul, were more important in deciding on asuccessor to Thorn than Knowles' affiliation withHarvard.

"The trustees in this case were looking forsomeone with impeccable scientific credentials,with a deep understanding of academic affairs,"Jarmul said.

Founded by aircraft mogul Howard Hughes in1954, the HHMI today employs more than 320scientific investigators--including several NobelPrize winners and 60 members of the NationalAcademy of Sciences--at 72 institutions across theUnited States.

Its assets of $11 billion make it the secondlargest philanthropy in the United States andenabled it to distribute over $500 million inresearch funding this fiscal year.

HHMI currently employs 15 investigators inCambridge, including Assistant Professor ofMolecular and Cellular Biology Catherine Dulac,Professor of Biological Chemistry and MolecularPharmacology Stephen C. Harrison '63, Professor ofBiochemistry and Molecular Biology Douglas A.Melton, Professor of Chemistry Stuart L. Schreiberand Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics DonC. Wiley at Harvard.

The institute has also given several milliondollars to enhance undergraduate science educationat Harvard, said Jarmul